Acne

my vanity became a laboratory 

full of products with ingredients i soon began to memorize; 

salicylic acid, niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide—

the names sounded so promising—

               or maybe i just wanted them to.

each morning, 

feeling less and less confident, 

red craters filled my face—

inflammation rising beneath oil and uneven skin,

               a chemical reaction i could not control.

yet, my skin continued to heal slowly, 

while i was still learning 

               how to accept myself

even on days

i no longer wanted to look at myself 

in the mirrors of my vanity